Who would ever have guessed that the key decision on $33 billion worth of federal investment could be made without meddling politicians? But that’s what happened with the shipbuilding project. And wasn’t it refreshing? Federal cabinet ministers eschewed the age-old practice of wrangling over the spoils of a government program. With them out of the way, rational decisions could be made and were made. The right yard won.
But only minutes after the announcement and as the non-political part wrapped up, normal politics resumed. Defence Minister Peter MacKay wandered onto the low road, backhanding the provincial government and Premier Darrell Dexter for lobbying for the contracts.
Saying the $1.4-million Ships Start Here campaign had “zero impact” and that it “was just like pouring that money into Halifax Harbour,” MacKay the political animal had reverted to type. The NDP is enemy No. 1 for the federal Tories and Dexter is a New Democrat who has power, influence and positive poll numbers. If you’re a Tory, you’re taking a shot at Dexter.
By contrast, the premier was all sweetness and light about MacKay. Asked about MacKay’s role, Dexter described the minister as a great supporter of the navy and of Nova Scotia. Of course, that was before MacKay’s comments were reported.
Strictly on the facts, MacKay was right to say the money was poorly spent. All that boosterism turned out to be so much clutter in the process to determine which shipyards were best qualified to handle the contracts. It didn’t affect the result, so it was money wasted.
But we only know that now. No one seemed to believe that $33 billion could be allocated without the grasping political behaviour that has always dogged federal procurement.
Sadly, politics wasn’t abolished, only suspended while the contract bids were processed. The provincial money that went to support the bid will pay political dividends for Dexter for years to come. He was seen as the man doing everything in his power to bring the project to Halifax and there is no downside to that.
And consider the alternative. Had Dexter remained mute as MacKay suggests he should have, he’d have been seen as passive and ineffective. That was not a reasonable risk by any political calculation because if Halifax had lost out, the premier would have been justifiably roasted for doing too little.
Whether the province should have spent $620,000 out of the $1.4 million for Ships Start Here is quite another question. Perhaps it could have achieved the same goals more cheaply. Some might argue that the principal beneficiaries of the lobbying campaign are Dexter and the NDP, so the spending was political anyway.
In any case, the selection process is now a model for future large procurement projects. Turns out that playing it straight actually pays off, with the added benefit of political cover on one level and political capital on another. MacKay can say with conviction that he had nothing to do with the decision to award the largest share of the project to Irving Shipbuilding. He’ll say that everywhere except here. That’s the cover.
Inside Nova Scotia and across the Maritimes, he can now bask in the reflected glow of a federal deal that will keep on giving. It’s a safe bet that we’ll hear a lot from MacKay about Ottawa’s investments on the East Coast. That’s political capital.
Let’s just expect politicians to claim credit where they can. After all, this is a massive economic opportunity for Nova Scotia, with benefits that will extend across Canada. That’s why MacKay’s shot at Dexter seemed cheap. There was $33 billion worth of goodwill available to be spread around; MacKay could have shared it.
And remember, from their own words, no politician can claim credit for this great boon to our region. Ottawa is paying the bill, but this isn’t because any party or administration is “creating jobs.” The jobs are being created by the needs of the Canadian state. The state requires a navy and you can’t have a navy without ships.
It was a non-political process. Too bad it won’t stay that way.
Origin
Source: Chronicle Herald
But only minutes after the announcement and as the non-political part wrapped up, normal politics resumed. Defence Minister Peter MacKay wandered onto the low road, backhanding the provincial government and Premier Darrell Dexter for lobbying for the contracts.
Saying the $1.4-million Ships Start Here campaign had “zero impact” and that it “was just like pouring that money into Halifax Harbour,” MacKay the political animal had reverted to type. The NDP is enemy No. 1 for the federal Tories and Dexter is a New Democrat who has power, influence and positive poll numbers. If you’re a Tory, you’re taking a shot at Dexter.
By contrast, the premier was all sweetness and light about MacKay. Asked about MacKay’s role, Dexter described the minister as a great supporter of the navy and of Nova Scotia. Of course, that was before MacKay’s comments were reported.
Strictly on the facts, MacKay was right to say the money was poorly spent. All that boosterism turned out to be so much clutter in the process to determine which shipyards were best qualified to handle the contracts. It didn’t affect the result, so it was money wasted.
But we only know that now. No one seemed to believe that $33 billion could be allocated without the grasping political behaviour that has always dogged federal procurement.
Sadly, politics wasn’t abolished, only suspended while the contract bids were processed. The provincial money that went to support the bid will pay political dividends for Dexter for years to come. He was seen as the man doing everything in his power to bring the project to Halifax and there is no downside to that.
And consider the alternative. Had Dexter remained mute as MacKay suggests he should have, he’d have been seen as passive and ineffective. That was not a reasonable risk by any political calculation because if Halifax had lost out, the premier would have been justifiably roasted for doing too little.
Whether the province should have spent $620,000 out of the $1.4 million for Ships Start Here is quite another question. Perhaps it could have achieved the same goals more cheaply. Some might argue that the principal beneficiaries of the lobbying campaign are Dexter and the NDP, so the spending was political anyway.
In any case, the selection process is now a model for future large procurement projects. Turns out that playing it straight actually pays off, with the added benefit of political cover on one level and political capital on another. MacKay can say with conviction that he had nothing to do with the decision to award the largest share of the project to Irving Shipbuilding. He’ll say that everywhere except here. That’s the cover.
Inside Nova Scotia and across the Maritimes, he can now bask in the reflected glow of a federal deal that will keep on giving. It’s a safe bet that we’ll hear a lot from MacKay about Ottawa’s investments on the East Coast. That’s political capital.
Let’s just expect politicians to claim credit where they can. After all, this is a massive economic opportunity for Nova Scotia, with benefits that will extend across Canada. That’s why MacKay’s shot at Dexter seemed cheap. There was $33 billion worth of goodwill available to be spread around; MacKay could have shared it.
And remember, from their own words, no politician can claim credit for this great boon to our region. Ottawa is paying the bill, but this isn’t because any party or administration is “creating jobs.” The jobs are being created by the needs of the Canadian state. The state requires a navy and you can’t have a navy without ships.
It was a non-political process. Too bad it won’t stay that way.
Origin
Source: Chronicle Herald
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